University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(6)

Forget about the lampposts; enjoy the performance art

So Milwaukee’s Common Council says no to what sounded like a fairly innocuous idea, as far as public art goes: little kiosks on lampposts near Northwestern Mutual with mechanical animation. Who knows, perhaps the animation would involve excitations in the way that Milwaukee Art Museum neon exhibit with the clown did a few years back, but it mainly sounds like council members just didn’t like the art.

“I am just not feeling it,” said Ald. Willie Wade. “But then I wouldn't pay 50 cents for the Mona Lisa.”

Yes, well, we’re all glad he’s not in charge of the Louvre. One might ask why it is even asked of city councils whether they should pay 50 cents for the Mona Lisa or any sum for any other piece of art. It seems to lead exactly to politicians getting lost in questions of taste. This is what happens when you take money from everybody to buy art that, guaranteed, will not appeal to everybody. Someone feels cheated, and democracy will draw a mustache on Ms. Lisa.

Short of any sign the kiosks would be actively transgressive, the matter of whether taxpayer money ought to be spent or invested or wasted or blown on public art was settled when laws were passed requiring some share of public works projects go toward art, of whatever sort. If you’ve got a complaint, that’s the issue, not whether any particular kiosks on Wisconsin make us look “old school.”

Speaking of transgressive, the best bit of the story is that some guy who is, apparently, a bad boy of the local art scene, chap named Mike Brenner, announced on Mary Louise Schumacher's blog that he was so upset about politicians nixing an art project he favored that he would defecate on the lawn of any Common Council member who voted no. The best and most appropriate response yet was Ald. Joe Dudzik phoned Brenner’s answering machine to make sure the enfant terrible had his address right.

That, of course, is good constituent service. Unfortunately, Brenner appears mainly to have responded by electronically dicing up Dudzik’s defiance into some kind of musical remix. One wishes he’d carry through on his threat. The ensuing dashboard-cam video from the arresting officer who’d, presumably, be standing by would make for amusing performance art.